Govt ups compensation for maintenance costs of AI planes for VVIPs

The government has decided to increase the compensation for maintenance costs of Boeing 747-400 aircraft operated by Air India for VVIP flights, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.

For the current fiscal, the budgeted amount for annual maintenance of Air India's Boeing planes used for VVIP flights is Rs 3.2 billion, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha told the Lok Sabha.

The expenditure excludes that of crew and staff salaries, insurance, depreciation and interest on borrowings, among others.

In a written reply, Sinha said the government has decided to revise the compensation towards maintenance costs on VVIP flights (special extra section flights) operations with Boeing 747 aircraft.

The revision is from "Rs 3.36 billion plus applicable taxes to Rs 5.34 billion plus applicable taxes for FY 2016-17 with an annual escalation of 10 per cent to compensate for inflation for maintenance of B747-400 aircraft," he noted.

These planes, maintained by Air India, are used for ferrying the President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister.

Sinha said the maintenance cost compensation towards three B747-400 aircraft for SESF operations has been constant since 2011-12.

"There has been a substantial increase in expenditure incurred by Air India on the maintenance of aircraft during this time. These aircraft are now due for higher maintenance checks," he added.

According to him, escalation in cost is also due to expenses on spares as procurement is in dollar terms. "There has also been overall cost increase due to rise in cost of spares services and cost related to wages of crew and overheads," he noted.